• Jack Blair was named chairman of Active Implants (AIC; Memphis, Tennessee). Blair is a past group president of Smith & Nephew and has been an active member of the AIC board of directors and an early investor since its inception in 2004. AIC makes polymer orthopedic implants.

• Mishka Michon was named CEO of the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF; San Jose, California). Michon joined the CPF in June 2006 as executive VP of development. CPF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2001 to accelerate research efforts leading to a cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

• Steve NeSmith was named director of technology operations of ConnectivHealth (Nashville, Tennessee). Previously, NeSmith was director of e-business at B&H Publishing. ConnectivHealth is a provider of digital health information to physicians, health care professionals, hospitals and schools.

• Greatbatch (Clarence, New York) said that its board of directors has named Bill Sanford as non-executive chairman. Sanford is succeeding Edward Voboril, who will retire as chairman effective Jan. 31. Sanford has been a director of Greatbatch since October 2000, and was named vice chairman in August 2007. Greatbatch makes critical components used in medical devices for the cardiac rhythm management, neurostimulation, therapy delivery and orthopedic markets.

• Krishan Kumar, PhD, has joined Luna Innovations (Danville, Virginia) as VP of R&D at its Luna nanoWorks division in Danville, Virginia. Prior to joining Luna nanoWorks, Kumar was executive director of pharmaceutical sciences of Merial. Luna Innovations makes products for the healthcare, telecommunications, energy and defense markets.

• Holley Malia was named chief marketing officer of NewHope Bariatrics (Charlotte, North Carolina). Previously, Malia served as the director of global brand management and director of marketing for Allergan Medical. NewHope Bariatrics specializes in ambulatory surgery centers in partnership with bariatric surgeons.

• The board of US Oncology Holdings (Houston) said that Dale Ross will transition out of his role as CEO and will continue as the executive chairman of the company. At that time, Bruce Broussard will become the company’s president/CEO. The CEO transition is a planned succession that follows Broussard’s promotion to president in November 2005. Broussard also was elected to the company’s board, effective Feb. 1. US Oncology supports one of the nation’s largest cancer treatment and research networks.